“Are you concerned about becoming romantically entangled with someone so soon after becoming sober?”
“She has only brightened my world. If anything she makes staying sober easier.”
“How so?”
“We spend a lot of time together, talking, writing, creating. I don’t even think about drugs or alcohol in her presence.”
“You write together?”
“Yes, often.”
“Have you read her work?”
“I read her book in one sitting the day of our appearances on Good Morning with Mark and Amy. She’s beyond talented. I consistently find myself in awe of her while she’s fully focused on writing, her fingers flying over the keys while they try to keep up with her magnificent mind.”
The reporter’s lips lift into a smile. “You seem to respect and care for her deeply.”
“I do.”
“She’s a lucky woman to have Stone Tyler raving about her like this.”
“Those of us who have the pleasure to know her are the lucky ones, I assure you.”
She attempts to squeeze information about the album we’re working on for a few minutes, but when I don’t bite, she gives me a smile and ends our interview. It’s my turn for makeup and wardrobe now. I check my phone to see if there’s any updates, frowning when I don’t see any notifications.
Thirty-Five
HAZEL
The steady humand beeping of the machines keeping my grandma alive are all that I hear as my mom speaks to the doctor in the hall. Hot tears stream down my face as I hold her hand. The paper thin skin covering it is cool against mine. A pained cry rips from my chest as the news finally sinks in.
She’s not coming back to us.
I can’t wrap my mind around it. She was so full of life just weeks ago. Death wasn’t even on our radar. How could it just snatch her from us like this? With no warning? No time to say goodbye?
My phone rings with a call from Tyler. I want to talk to him, but I don’t know how to say the words he’ll ask for. So I let it go to voicemail and promise myself to text him later. I’m sure Dan is keeping him updated, regardless.
Mom walks in, closing the door behind her quietly. She sits down in the chair next to mine, covering my and Gram’s handswith her own. “They’re going to give us a few minutes to say goodbye.”
I don’t want to say goodbye. “Are they sure?”
“Yeah, honey. They're the best in the city. She doesn’t want to be kept alive on machines.”
“I’m not ready.” I lean forward, resting my ear above Grams’s heart. Even though it’s a machine making it beat, it’s still her heart.
Mom runs her hand down my back in long, comforting strokes as she begins to quietly sob. We stay like that until the doctor comes in along with a few nurses. I’m not sure if this is how they usually do this or if everyone is here because they work with Mom and want to support her.
Either way, I’m glad she has them. I know Sierra and Dan are out in the hall for me. Sierra canceled the rest of my tour. I can’t imagine not being near my mom while we both grieve. It’s just her and I now.
The room blurs behind the tears that coat my eyes as the doctor reaches for the machines, turning them off one by one. Her chest stops moving, the heart monitor goes flatline as the doctor watches the time. He quietly calls out time of death and leaves the room, squeezing Mom’s shoulder as he passes. She nods as he whispers to take as much time as we need.
Mom stays next to me while I will Grams to wake up miraculously. It happens in soap operas all the time, why the fuck can’t it happen in real life?
I’m not sure how much time passes before Mom gently tugs on my arm.
“We have to go, honey. They’ll need this room soon.”
“Okay.” My muscles scream as I stand. I grab the plastic bag with her belongings and see the gold band resting on top. Her wedding band that she wore every single day of my life. “Do you mind if I wear this for now?”